Workers prepare for concrete to be poured on an extension of a runway at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport this week. The Federal Aviation Administration will begin flight checks this month. Longer runways allow aircraft to carry more cargo or passengers.
Next year as Texas again bakes in the summer heat, jumbo jets full of Pacific Rim-bound cargo, passengers or both will rumble safely down a longer Runway 17-Center/35-Center on the Irving side of Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
The extended 13,401-foot runway, scheduled to be operational this winter, will enhance D/FW's ability to serve international flights. It is the third and final runway extension done as part of the $2.7 billion airport expansion, which includes the new international Terminal D and the Skylink people mover.
"This is really the last major project," said Clay Paslay, executive vice president of airport development.
Workers are pouring concrete now. The Federal Aviation Administration will begin flight checks this month, Paslay said.
Longer runways increase an aircraft's capacity to carry cargo, passengers or both in hot weather, said Jim Crites, executive vice president of operations. Runways of uniform length also help reduce the dangers of wake turbulence -- swirling winds created by other aircraft.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press
